Hasina's efforts in vain as Ctg city AL still riven
Awami League (AL) rival factions of Chittagong city unit continue with their separate programmes despite directions by the party President Sheikh Hasina, in a meeting on February 26, to unite and dissolve rift among them.
In the meeting at Chittagong Circuit House, Hasina also urged all party leaders in the unit to strengthen the party.
She entrusted three senior leaders -- AL North district unit President Engineer Mosharraf Hossain, South district unit President Akhteruzzaman Chowdhury Babu and former constituent assembly member and veteran leader Ishaque Mia -- with the task of reconciling the factions.
Sources in the unit said the three leaders are still to take any initiative in this regard.
Observing March 7, the faction led by AL city unit President ABM Mohiuddin Chowdhury and General Secretary Kazi Enamul Hoque Danu organised a rally at Laldighi Maidan.
On the same day, another rival faction led by city unit Vice President Nurul Islam BSc and Primary and Mass Education Minister Afsarul Ameen organised a meeting at Dost Building at New Market area. AL leader Advocate Ibrahim Hossain Babul presided over the meeting.
At the meeting, Babul said they would observe March 17, the birthday of Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman and National Children's Day, at Muslim Hall and March 26, Independence Day, at Shaheed Minar.
Terming the Mohiuddin led committee “illegal,” Babul said it lost its validity a long time ago. But if Sheikh Hasina orders him to work under Mohiuddin's leadership, he would instantly follow, he said.
“The party president said she would sit with us in Dhaka. But before that, she entrusted the three leaders to reconcile the rift,” Babul answered as to why they were organising separate programmes despite Hasina's directions.
The three leaders are yet to take any initiative, Babul added.
Kazi told The Daily Star that they would organise the March 17 and March 26 programmes at Laldighi Maidan and all city AL leaders should participate in the programmes organised by the city committee.
“If anyone does not remain present and organises separate programmes, he does not believe in unity,” Kazi said.
But Babul refused this accusation saying that the “illegal” committee has no right to call any meeting and moreover they were not invited.
In reply, Kazi said, “How can I invite them as I issued show cause notices to them a few days back?”
Akhteruzzaman on Friday said he began working on the matter and already talked to Mohiuddin and some leaders of the two factions.
“I am confident that the rift will be dissolved within a short time and leaders of the two rival factions will come under the same umbrella to work for the greater interest of the party,” he added.
Mosharraf said he is yet to talk to any leader. “I will talk to them immediately and I am confident of bringing them on to the same stage.”
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